Occupational Therapy Schools in Connecticut

One of the smaller states in the union, Connecticut is a center for education, sophistication, culture and diversity. Occupational therapy students attending schools in the state can expect to find themselves within reach of some of the top museums on the east coast, historical destinations and a relaxed pace of life.

As stated in the previous paragraph, Connecticut is not a large state. It covers an area of about 5000 square miles and has a population of approximately 3,500,000 people. Whether as a helping hand for an accident victim recovering from injuries or aiding a stroke victim in regaining lost skills, there is a need for occupational therapists in this state. So what are the steps one needs to take to become licensed as an occupational therapist in the state of Connecticut?

There are national standards for occupational therapists and Connecticut uses these established standards of certification when deciding whether a person will be allowed to have a license to practice therapy in the state. An area where the state does stray from the national guidelines is in the area of education, or earned degree. Connecticut does not require that therapists have a master's level degree. However, individuals without a master's should not rush to the state because it does require a passing score on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy certification examination and this makes the point moot since one must have a master's level degree to take this national exam. The bottom line is therapists will need that higher level degree to get licensed and work in the state; though it is not technically a requirement of the state.

So where does one go within the state of Connecticut to begin the process of earning the credentials for a career in occupational therapy? When talking about on campus programs, Lincoln College of New England is one of the first to come to mind. The school offers accelerated programs, internships and career placement assistance. The institution has been in existence for more than 40 years and offers an Occupational Therapy Assistant Associate Degree Program that leads to certification as an occupational therapy assistant. Of course, this is only the beginning of the process to get a license in the state.

Sacred Heart University in Fairfield offers a Doctoral degree in occupational therapy. This could be a great location from which to continue the process of gaining all the necessary credentials. The institution was established in 1963 and inducts a freshman class of about 4000 students each year. Also, Quinnipiac University, a private institution, offers a Doctoral and a professional degree in occupational therapy. The school, established in 1929, is located in Hamden and has been ranked as one of the nation's best colleges by U.S. News & World Report.

Students in Connecticut can also make use of the many online programs to fill in any voids in their requirements to become therapists and work at state located institutions such as Masonicare Health Center, Saint Francis Hospital and St. Vincent's Medial Center.